LexusRC3502023Overview/lexus/rc350/2023/base/

2023 Lexus RC350

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2023 RC350.

Transmission Automatic (S8)

The 2023 Lexus RC350 is a midsize luxury coupe that arrives equipped with an eight‑speed automatic (S8) transmission and delivers EPA‑rated fuel economy of 20 mpg city, 28 mpg highway, and a combined 23 mpg. Its powertrain, while providing the smooth acceleration expected of the line, is also the focal point of the model’s modest reliability record, accounting for the majority of the nine owner complaints logged for the year. With two recalls reported for this generation, the 2023 RC350 continues a generally dependable trend for the RC series, indicating that while isolated issues exist, the vehicle remains a solid choice for researchers examining recent Lexus reliability data.

Model year202520242023202220212020201920182017

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

Lug nut torque76.0 ft-lbsOEM · verified
EPA fuel economy20/28/23 mpgEPA · verified

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

From the factory this vehicle uses OE oil filter 9030179006. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filter9030179006 alt 9672335028
Engine air filter1780131170
Fuel filter7702453100
Spark plug9091901263
Battery2880038100
Front wiper blades8522224150 alt 8521253100
Serpentine belt90916A2026
Thermostat1632631050 alt 1603131071
Cabin air filter8713930100

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

TransmissionAutomatic (S8)

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined20 / 28 / 23 mpg
DrivetrainRear-Wheel Drive
Recommended fuelPremium Gasoline

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine DOT 3 · SAE J1703 · DOT 4 · SAE J1704 brake fluid. Torque lug nuts to 97.0 ft-lbs.

Lubricants & capacities

Brake FluidDOT 3 · SAE J1703 · DOT 4 · SAE J1704

Chassis torques

Lug Nuts76.0 ft-lbs
Lug Nuts76.0 ft-lbs
Lug Nuts103.0 ft-lbs
Lug Nuts97.0 ft-lbs

Ignition

Curb Idle Speed (No Load)650 rpm
Curb Idle Speed Variance (No Load)50 rpm

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter every 10,000 mi; spark plugs every 60,000 mi; coolant every 50,000 mi. The big-interval services (every 50,000 mi for coolant, and the transmission fluid) are the ones owners most often skip — on a lower-mileage example, assume the original fluids are still in it and check them first.

At 5,000 miUniversal Vehicle Operation (inspect all fluid levels)
Every 5,000 miBrake System (inspect) · Floor Mat (inspect) · Fuel Tank (add fluid conditioner) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate) · Universal Vehicle Operation (road test) · Windshield Wiper Blade (inspect)
Every 10,000 miCabin Air Filter (replace) · Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Universal Vehicle Operation (inspect all fluid levels)
Every 15,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Brake Line (inspect) · CV Joint Boot (inspect) · Drive Axle Assembly (inspect) · Engine Coolant System (inspect fluid level) · Exhaust System (Complete) (inspect)
Every 30,000 miBrake Hydraulic System (drain, refill & bleed) · Brake Rotor (inspect) · Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · Fuel Evaporative Emission Control System Lines (inspect) · Fuel Line (inspect) · Fuel Tank Filler Cap O-Ring (inspect)
Every 50,000 miEngine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)
At 60,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect)
Every 60,000 miSpark Plugs (replace)
At 100,000 miEngine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

The 2016–2017 model years set a baseline of very low complaint volumes (1–2) with no recalls and a high number of TSBs, indicating proactive service guidance rather than widespread defects. For 2023, the federal record shows four complaints across powertrain, electrical, lane departure, and brake systems, three of which involved a crash, though no fires were reported. This represents a slight uptick in complaint frequency relative to the early years, but the overall count remains minimal and no recall or investigation data is provided for 2023. The generation’s trend suggests that the RC350 has consistently avoided major systemic issues, and the 2023 model’s isolated complaints do not point to a pattern of failure. A pre-purchase inspection focusing on the brake and lane departure systems is advisable given the crash-related reports, but the 2023 RC350 otherwise appears to be a sound used-vehicle choice.

2
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
82
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
0
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
9
Owner complaints
3 involved a crash · 0 a fire
NHTSA crash-test rating federal NCAP · out of 5 stars
Overall★★★★★
Frontal★★★★
Side★★★★★
Rollover★★★★

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 9 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Power Train1
Electrical System1
Lane Departure1
Service Brakes, Hydraulic,Electrical System1
Fuel/Propulsion System1
Service Brakes1
Vehicle Speed Control,Forward Collision Avoidance1
Unknown Or Other,Visibility1

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

No recall campaigns on record with NHTSA for this vehicle as of the last data refresh.

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 82 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
L-SB-0021-252026-03-10EngineOBSOLETE NOTICE February 27, 2026: This bulletin is no longer applicable and is now…
L-SB-0021-252026-02-27EngineOBSOLETE NOTICE February 27, 2026: This bulletin is no longer applicable and is now…
L-SB-0030-24 Rev22025-12-15StructureSome 2005 – 2026 Lexus vehicles that have undergone water intrusion may exhibit a…
L-SB-0039-252025-09-09Electrical SystemA new head unit software update is available for 2023 – 2024 model year ES 250, ES 300h…
L-TT-0326-23 Rev22025-08-19Electrical SystemSome customers may experience operational difficulties with some telematics features…

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420
Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1
P0300
Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected
P0171
System too lean — Bank 1
P0455
Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak
P0128
Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature
P0442
Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN
Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific RC350. OEM
Build data
Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.
Recalls
Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Frequently asked

Does the 2023 RC350 have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 2 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.

What gas mileage does the RC350 get?

EPA figures are 20 city / 28 highway / 23 combined mpg.